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When choosing how to raise money for charity, most people decide to hold a quiz, do a sponsored walk or hold a bake sale.
But Andy Short is taking his fundraising to the next level, by paddleboarding across the English Channel solo.
The 37-year-old is on a mission to raise £10,000 for the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (Cabs), an organisation he says is close to his heart.
Mr Short, from Broadstairs, said: “Cabs are a Bonn-based non-profit organisation that do incredible work protecting our migratory birds from illegal trapping and killing.
“They run bird protection camps in poaching hotspots such as Cyprus, Malta and Italy.”
A keen volunteer, Mr Short has regularly helped Cabs in Brescia, northern Italy, for the last 11 years.
“In small covert teams we search for illegal bird traps in the high mountains,” he added.
“After locating traps we show these sites to the Italian forest police and they will ambush and arrest the poacher.”
It was while volunteering at last year’s international bird fair that Mr Short decided it was time to do more to support them.
“I set myself the challenge of solo paddleboarding across the English Channel to help raise funds and awareness for CABS,” he said.
Birds have been a long-term love for Mr Short.
“I fell in love with birds at a young age thanks to my dad taking me birdwatching with him,” he said.
“At the age of 16 we went on our first international birding trip together to Hong Kong to see spoon-billed sandpipers and I’ve been hooked ever since.
“For the last 10 years I’ve been working at Stone Bay school in Broadstairs with children with autism and learning difficulties.
“I get to work with some real characters and, of course, I take advantage of all the school holidays to travel overseas.”
No fundraising feat would be complete without a quiz or two.
Mr Short has been busy organising events, to raise money and help people learn more about Cabs.
He added: “In March I ran a quiz night which 120 people attended and on the night after costs I raised a staggering £1,400.
“Last month, I organised a fun curry and magic evening. I managed to fill a local Indian restaurant and raised another £700.
“Due to popular demand, I’m running another quiz night on Saturday, July 14.”
Mr Short had hoped to complete his 24-mile paddle from Dungeness to Boulogne during half-term but was unable to due to the thunderstorms and sea fog.
He has now been placed on a waiting list.
